Seiko SRPA21 Turtle PADI Special Edition Review

As it's unofficially known as the Turtle (or officially the SRPA21), I guess it does not land like an eagle But here it is - an entry level diver from Seiko in collaboration with PADI (Professional Association of Diving Instructors for us desk divers). Both the organization and Seiko as a manufacturer of dive watches had their start in 1965, and with the current watch (as well as a Kinetic model, the SUN065) they are celebrating the fact. It is not exactly a limited edition but it is a Special Edition, whatever that may mean. 

It is most closely related to the SRP779 from the new Turtle line but has a blue dial, a red rimmed minute hand and the PADI logo printed above 6 o'clock. IMHO this makes for a much more harmonious look than the blue and red bezel with a black dial. 

The rotating bezel has is an unidirectional 120 click affair and has very nice tactile feedback, without being too hard to operate. The zero position has a luminous dot, then the red section extends to 20 minutes, the other forty being blue.

Unlike the Turtles of the past (and many Seiko 5 watches even now) the movement used - the 4R36 is both hacking and can be hand wound. This is supposedly a relatively robust 21,600 vph, 24 jewel movement with a 41h power reserve. The case back is solid, so not much can be said about the looks. On the operating side the crown - placed at 4 o'clock - is of both an adequate size and is pleasant to use for setting the watch and winding it, too. None of the fiddly operation of some Seiko 5s here. Easy to screw in, too. The crown is unmarked but is ribbed for a more secure grip.

The hands are basically the same shape as those of the SRP779. The minute hand has a red coloured outline, while the hour one and the second one are polished metal. As most modern Seiko dive watches, this one comes with the lollipop on the wrong side of the seconds hand - an annoying feature in my opinion but not one to keep one awake at night I guess. The counterweights of all hands are painted matt black.

The other dial design elements are pretty much like those on the original Turtle from the 1970s, as seen below.

The case back mentions the Special Edition and has the typical Tsunami wave logo in the centre. Apart from that not much to say about it, I guess.

The bracelet is very comfortable and it is easy to remove links, as well as adjust it for the diving suit, not that I will ever need that The elements are brushed with two polished lines in-between (I could do without) on the top and polished on the sides, like the case. 

I did not manage to get a good lume shot just yet but it seems to be fairly bright in a darkened corridor, so you'll have to take my word for it As for practical testing, it does have the water resistance required of my heavy use, as seen below Sadly not taken under a Roman fountain but the point remains valid, I guess

Last but not least, it works well on the wrist, wears very comfortably for its 45mm X 13,4mm. And the dial catches the light really well. The blue - as we know the colour of love with watches - is mesmerising, letting me forget about the day and date windows Oh, the day disc is bilingual, as usual with Seikos (here German and English).

So I am ready for all possible desk diving now. Who knows, I may even make use of the PADI organisation and start with the watery version, too